Richards' Thomas eyes Illini

Tommie Thomas, Richards’ do-everything player, has informed Illinois coach Ron Zook that he will join the Illini program next year — if he completes his academic requirements by achieving the necessary core courses.

‘‘I think he will make it,’’ Richards coach Gary Korhonen said. ‘‘He has qualified in two of the three categories. He scored 21 on the ACT and his grade-point average is good enough. A plan is in effect to obtain the necessary core courses to qualify for a scholarship.’’

Meanwhile, Korhonen is touting Thomas to be the Sun-Times Player of the Year in the Chicago area. In his first season as varsity quarterback, the 6-1, 180-pounder has passed for 1,457 yards and 19 touchdowns and run for 619 yards and eight touchdowns. On defense, he has four interceptions.

‘‘He is the best clutch player I have coached in 36 years,’’ said Korhonen, who is preparing for the Class 6A quarterfinal Friday against Oak Forest. ‘‘He is so athletic, so cool under pressure. Where does he play in college? He could be a great wide receiver, cornerback or free safety.’’

VOTE FOR GASTON: De La Salle coach Dan O’Keefe played on Leo’s 1990 team with Corey Rogers, who was the Sun-Times Player of the Year and later was Big Ten Freshman of the Year at Purdue. He thinks his current star, Cordero Gaston, is better than Rogers. ‘‘Cordero is better because he always gets extra yards. He is faster and every bit as physical,’’ said O’Keefe, whose team will host Carmel on Saturday in a 7A quarterfinal.

O’Keefe can’t understand why colleges aren’t expressing more interest in Gaston, who has rushed for 1,962 yards and 26 touchdowns.

‘‘There is a ton of interest, mostly from mid-major schools, but no offers. Northern Illinois has shown the most interest. Anyone not interested now is foolish,’’ he said.

ON THE RHODES: Does anyone this side of Tommie Thomas do more for his team than Jeremy Rhodes? The 6-1, 190-pound senior has led Brother Rice into Friday’s 8A quarterfinal at Homewood-Flossmoor by making 65 tackles, intercepting three passes, averaging 34.3 yards on kickoff returns and 25.4 yards on punt returns, averaging five yards per carry and scoring the winning touchdown in five games.

‘‘He is one of the biggest playmakers I’ve coached in nine years, as deserving [of All-Chicago Area recognition] as any player I’ve had in the last five years,’’ said Brother Rice coach Steve Nye. ‘‘When a play needs to be made, he makes it. I don’t know what more a kid has to do in a season or a career than he has done. Now he is a senior and more of a leader.’’

Colleges apparently still aren’t convinced. They question his size and his speed (4.5).

‘‘There is a lot more interest now, more calls and more requests for tapes, mostly from Gateway Conference schools [Illinois State, Western Illinois]. But I think he can play in the MAC,’’ Nye said.

GOOD NEWS: Kevin Finney, Lake Forest’s 6-6 receiver, is optimistic about his chances of obtaining a scholarship offer from Iowa State. He will visit the school this weekend and make an official visit in December or January.

‘‘They are recruiting me as a tight end and slot receiver,’’ said Finney, who caught 65 passes for 864 yards and six touchdowns in eight games this season. ‘‘I’m feeling optimistic and being patient and letting schools see what I did this year. Things are looking up.’’

WALKER WAITING: Illinois State and Western Illinois have offered and Big Ten schools have expressed interest but Glenbard East coach Dennis Lueck can’t understand why 6-1, 240-pound linebacker Pat Walker isn’t a more popular figure on the recruiting trail.

Walker made 145 tackles this season for a 1-8 team and was named the DuPage Valley’s top defensive player.

‘‘He was our leading tackler in every game and opponents had to game plan around him,’’ Lueck said.